Chaweng Walking Street Koh Samui'A Fun Outdoor Market'

The
Chaweng Walking Street located on Koh Samui is a great outdoor market to visit especially if you are seeking a quiet night out after a long day at Chaweng Beach. While this Thai market may not be as well known as some of the larger Bangkok markets (including the Chatuchak Weekend Market), this venue still offers shoppers plenty of merchandise to buy and at a fraction of department store prices.

BACKGROUND

Once you
arrive at this night market your senses will be flooded by the sights
and smells tempting you to both shop and eat until your heart is
content.

The outdoor market comes to life by mid afternoon when
the traders arrive and begin setting up their stalls under the hot
Thailand sun. However, it is not until about 6 PM in the evening when this Koh Samui market really springs into life and the tourists start to arrive in
large numbers looking either for that elusive bargain or simply to sit down and have
dinner.

The
Chaweng Walking Street seems to extend along the Main Beach Road for several kilometres, and each block is packed with a variety of stalls erected side by side along the footpaths. Each of the different stall owners are here to sell either fresh produce, cooked food or a variety of consumer goods. Although, live performers also attend the market, and set up at different locations, and they can also be seen and heard as you walk along the street.

SHOPPING

Indeed,
you can find just about anything and everything at the Chaweng market
Thai vendors peddling a variety of fake brand products
including Ralph Lauren and Lacoste polo shirts, T-shirts, jeans, Ray Ban
sunglasses, bags, cosmetics, watches, DVDs, beach
wear, and of course hand made souvenirs such as wooden elephants and silk scarves .

Most of these brand named goods can be purchased at
a fraction of the cost that you would expect to pay from an official outlet in Thailand or in most western
countries.

Just remember, that most of the CDs and DVDs that you buy here will be pirated so don't be afraid to haggle and get them cheap, especially if you are buying multiple items. The traders can only say no (but usually they will say yes to reasonable offers) and remember its all part of the fun. This advice also goes for the sunglasses that you may be tempted to buy that have Ray Ban and Bolle labels on them. Make sure you check them for quality, and don't pay any more than about 400 Thai baht.

FOOD AND DRINK

When
all that walking and shopping makes you feel tired then its probably time to stop and have a bite to eat. There are of course a large number of stalls and small restaurants along the Chaweng Walking Street selling a variety of delicious Thai
food including curry chicken, grilled pork, sticky rice and squid.

There is also a 7-Eleven, a Mcdonalds and Burger King situated along the main Beach Road for people who feel like hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and coke instead of the local Thai cuisine.

GETTING THERE

Chaweng is located on Koh Samui in southern Thailand. The best way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui is by
plane. Samui International Airport which is privately owned by Bangkok
Airways would have to be the most beautiful airports in southern Thailand. Opened in April 1989, the airport is located along the
northern part of Koh Samui near Bophut Beach. Its airstrip measures
2,100 metres in length and the main terminal was designed to blend in
with the island's natural flora and fauna.

The
Chaweng market opens from about 4 PM to midnight but is closed on
Fridays and Sundays. It is located in south Chaweng along the main
Beach Road.